OPEN WIDE! LOCAL DENTISTS
OFFER FREE CARE FOR KIDS

January 23, 2009

HOOD RIVER, Ore. - February is National Children’s Dental Month designed to raise awareness for the improvement of dental health care and coverage for underserved children. On February 6, Gorge dental professionals will join this effort by providing free dental services to local children who have limited or no dental health care.

It’s all part of the American Dental Association’s (ADA) annual “Give Kids A Smile Day.” This one day volunteer event will offer free oral health education, dental screenings and free dental care such as cleaning, fluoride treatments, fillings and even more intensive care when needed. Parents whose children meet the requirements for state sponsored dental coverage will learn what services are available to them and those not eligible will be enrolled in the dental voucher program sponsored by the Gorge Dental Access Coalition (GDAC).

“Free dental screenings are a great start but our overall goal is to teach each child how to care for their teeth on a daily basis,” says Bruce Burton, D.D.S., a local dentist participating in the event. “Knowing basic oral hygiene will make a huge difference in the lives of these children.”

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease affecting American children, five times more common than asthma according to a report by the U.S. Surgeon General. Untreated oral disease has been linked to childhood infections and more catastrophic illnesses. More commonly, tooth decay greatly restricts children’s daily activities and results in the loss of many millions of hours of classroom time each year.

“Good dental health goes well beyond a pretty smile,” says Elizabeth Aughney, D.D.S., director of La Clinica del Carino Family Health Clinic. “Dental issues that appear to be minor can quickly develop into a serious and often painful problem for children, affecting their teeth and occasionally their overall health. ‘Give Kids A Smile Day’ is a great opportunity to help resolve this large issue.”

GDAC brings “Give Kids A Smile Day” to the Gorge on February 6, at the following locations: A Kidz dental Zone for children ages 0 to 8 and La Clinca Del Carino Family Health Clinic for children ages 9 to 16. No appointment is necessary, however a parent or legal guardian must accompany a child. Interpreters will be available.

GDAC is a partnership of Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Foundation, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Hood River County School District, Hood River County Health Department/School Nurses, Hood River County Commission on Children and Families, La Clinica Del Carino Family Health Clinic, Health Division of the Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Child Development Coalition, Next Door Inc., Lorena Sprager, Elizabeth Aughney, D.D.S., Bruce Burton, D.D.S., and Kyle House, D.D.S. Its mission is to be a source of information and communication regarding oral health practices and to assist Gorge families in gaining access to dental health.

For more information on “Give Kids A Smile Day,” visit the ADA web site at www.ada.org.

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Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital is part of Providence Health & Services, the state’s leading health system and largest private employer. Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital is a full-service, critical-access hospital with a 24-hour emergency department. Providence offers a wide range of health care services in the communities of the Columbia River Gorge through its clinics, care centers and senior living facilities.